Mock election designed to stir up interest

NAMPA, Idaho – State leaders have devised a mock election and an electronic textbook in an effort to interest high school students in politics.

Secretary of State Ben Ysursa and Idaho Schools Superintendent Marilyn Howard on Thursday announced plans for a statewide, Internet-based mock election.

“We should all be concerned about declining voter turnout in our state and nation,” Ysursa said. “This project is a great partnership to help encourage more people to vote.”

Idaho posted a 27 percent decline in youth voter turnout from 1972 to 2000, one of the largest in the nation, according to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement. Youth voters are between the ages of 18 and 24.

The mock election, scheduled for this fall, will use software included with an interactive CD-ROM textbook, distributed to high school American government teachers throughout the state.

Students get a two-week voting window to cast ballots online in state and national races.

“We hope that by helping students become familiar with registering and voting before they are old enough to vote, we can spark their interest in continuing to vote as adults,” Ysursa said.